Holdback-hook



Patented July l9, I898.

I. WISSE.

HULDBACK HOOK.

(Application filed Jun. 19. 1897.)

(No Model.)

INVENTOR 1m m W15 s e/ 5 mYfi'vnt-Ss WITNESSES;

rrnn STATES PATENT FFICEG IMAN WISSE, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN.

HOLDBACK-HOOK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 607,499, dated July 19, 1898.- Application filed January 19, 1897. Serial No. 619,709. (1% model.)

To a w/wm it may concern.-

Be it known that I, IMAN \VISSE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Grand Rapids, in the county of Kent and State of Michi 'gan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in I-loldback-Hooks; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements inholdback-hooks; and its object is to provide the same with certain new and useful features, hereinafter more fully described and more particularly pointed out in the claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a device embodying my invention as it appears when in use; Fig. 2, the same when out of use; Fig. 3, a longitudinal vertical section; Fig. 4, a plan view of the top of the same detached, and Fig. 5 an inverted view of the same.

Like letters refer to like parts in all of the figures.

A is a hook having a concave forward edge A and diverging ribs having convex rear edges A, and a base B, adapted to be secured by means of screws to the under side of a thill. G is a latch pivoted to said base near the forward side of said hook and in line with the same and having a convex rear edge adapted to engage the concave edge A! of said hook, and a curved slot 0', extending from its lower end upward to receive the holdback-strap. Said latch is thus divided into two parts or prongs by said slot 0, and on the forward prong, near the upper end of said slot, is a projection 0'', adapted to engage the holdback-strap, and in conjunction with the curvature of said slot 0 prevent the strap from moving freely in the latch, while enabling the latter efficiently to hold straps of various thicknesses. The boss D around the pivot of said latch has two flattened sides D D, adapted to be engaged by the flat spring E, which spring is secured in the recess B in the base B. When said latch is in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3, said spring engages the flattened side D and holds said latch against said hook or in a closed position, and when in the position shown in prevents said latch from turning; but should the harness tugs be disengaged from the whiffletree by accident or otherwise said holdback-strap will unfailingly slip over the convex rear side of said hook as the horse leaves the thills, the latch will be turned on its pivot against the action of the spring E, and said strap will be released. This greatly facilitates the unhitching of horses, as it is not necessary to disconnect the holdback-strap, and when'hitching up it is only necessary to place said strap in the slot (3 and close the latch, said latch being left open by the action of the strap when the horse was formerly unhitched.

By providing the diverging and rounded ribs A the strap-detaching takes place automatically and the strap is not turned sharply around an angle and the inward inclination of the ribs tends to cause said strap to slide freely over the same, and thus be more freely detachable, and by providing the projection C straps of different thickness may be inserted and engaged at both sides to prevent any freedom of motion of the same between the parts 0 and G.

. Having thus described my invention, what I claim is i 1. In a holdback-hook, the combination of the base, a concave hook depending therefrom, a latch to hold the strap, pivoted adjacent to the concave side of the hook, and two ribs extending convergently from the rear endvof the base to said hook and having inclined under surfaces merging into the lower end or point of said hook, substantially as described, whereby the strap will be guided to the point of said hook and unfailingly released when the thills are dropped and the animal starts to move from between the same.

2. In a holdback-hook, the combination of a hook having a concave forward side, and a latch pivoted to the base of the hook and engaging said concave side when closed, said latch having a longitudinal curved slot to receive the strap and a projection in one side of said slot to engage the side of said strap, whereby straps of different thicknesses will efficiently be held against movement in said slot when the latch is closed while being freely released therefrom when the latch is open, substantially as described.

3. In a holdback-hook, a hook having a concave forward side and diverging convex ribs at the rear side to facilitate detachment of the strap, and a latch having a convex side engaging the concave side of said hook, said latch also having a curved longitudinal slot to receive the strap and a projection in one side of said slot to engage the side of said strap and prevent free movement of the same in said slot, substantially as described.

4. As an improved article of manufacture, the herein-described holdback-hook, consistinward projection at one side of said slot, and

the upper end of said latch being pivoted to the base and formed with a boss having reversely-flattened sides engaged by the free end of said spring, substantially as described. In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

IMAN \VISSE. \Vitnesses:

LEwIs E. FLANIDERS, Lois liloonron. 

